Total expenditure has gone up six-fold since 2002-03: Survey
Comparing to preceding decade, more attention is being paid to urban development now. Total expenditure of Urban Administration and Development Department was only Rs 738 crore in year 2002-03, which has gone up six-fold now to Rs 4,850 crore. During current fiscal, the State Government has allocated Rs 6,012 crore budget to the department, which is Rs 819 crore more than Rs 5,193 crore budget for year 2013-14. Role of urban bodies in economic growth is considered to be the main reasons behind increase in budget allocation of the department. This has come to the fore in a national-level survey of high-level expert committee of the Union Urban Development Ministry.
The survey was conducted between year 2008 and 2011. In view of this, the State Government has also increased budget of the department year by year for providing basic amenities and infrastructure development in urban areas. In the departmental budget for year 2014-15, the State Government has allocated Rs 1,592 crore under plan head. Initiative has also been taken to deposit funds for urban bodies directly in their bank accounts for ensuring fiscal discipline.
For urban infrastructure development, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission was launched 8 years ago. The scheme covered 4 cities of Madhya Pradesh Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain. Under the Mission, the State had received Rs 3,167 crore for 48 housing projects by the Central Government. Similarly, 181 projects of 114 urban bodies costing Rs 2,859 crore have been sanctioned till date from year 2006 under UIDSSMT Scheme for small and medium cities. As many as 113 new projects of 65 urban bodies have also been launched during last two years, work on which is in progress.
Mukhyamantri Shahari Adhosanrachna Vikas Yojana was launched in year 2011-12 for urban infrastructure development. Works Rs 1500 crore has been allocated under the scheme during 12th Five-year Plan. Presently, Rs 1,429 crore 79 lakh has been sanctioned to 277 urban bodies for various works including roads, parks, footpaths, drains, streetlight etc.
It has also been decided to construct “excellent roads” at district headquarters and in cities having of religious and historical importance. Work has been started in most of the cities. Works to construct about 810 km long roads have also been sanctioned under Mukhyamantri Shahari Adhosanrachna Vikas Yojana.